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Lorry driver bailed after Newport SDR crash

A LORRY driver arrested following a crash on Newport’s South Distributor Road (SDR) on Tuesday morning has been bailed pending further enquiries.

The 39-year-old was arrested for driving without due care after his lorry overturned around 9.55am at the Leeway roundabout. Police have bailed him to September 24.

Yesterday the Argus reported that roadworks were currently taking place to improve the Nash Road roundabout overnight including road-resurfacing and changing the number of lanes on the approach. Improvements are due to be made on the Leeway roundabout next year.

Lliswerry councillors Roger Jeavons, who chaired a scrutiny committee looking into the problems, and Allan Morris shared concerns about the road and hope that improvements will reduce the number of accidents.

Another Lliswerry councillor John Richards said he had been concerned about the SDR since it opened 10 years ago. In the last decade, there have been nearly 20 accidents involving overturned heavy goods vehicles.

Cllr Richards said: “When it first opened we were worried about certain aspects of it, about the design of it.

“In certain areas it leaves a lot to be desired, three lanes into two, the roundabout at the bottom of Nash Road and the footbridge are problems, but in fairness, the contractors put that right and added an extra length to the footbridge.

“They listened to the four councillors on that. We’ve had a reasonable relationship with them.

“As councillors, we’ve raised it a number of times. Things are getting worse before they get better.

“Cllr Jeavons is scrutiny chairman and he’s looking at the problems in some detail. I’m worried about the accidents, someone might get killed and that’s the day everybody will take an interest and that’s not the time.

“It’s the responsibility of Vinci [the contractors] to maintain the road, I don’t want to criticise them but the buck’s got to stop with someone.

“It’s not the council. We have a bit of a partnership, but the maintenance of the road isn’t within the realm of the council.

“This latest spate of crashes is a worry. When a lorry goes over it’s frightening, what if a car was by the side?”

Comments

Just asking but didnt the council pass the plans for the road in the first place.????????

Just asking but didnt the council pass the plans for the road in the first place.????????harryfan

Just asking but didnt the council pass the plans for the road in the first place.????????

Score: 8

Lliswerry Man
10:22am Thu 7 Aug 14

Let me get this right, the council/authority somewhere approved the building and design of this road? But now state its the responsibility of Vinci to maintain it and that they were worried about the design of it from the start? but did what to question it?... maintenance has nothing to do with the design or faults which are causing some of the accidents, the suspect design flaws should have been picked up Prior to being built, The Original Contractors themselves should have thought it out more, and whoever at NCC or whatever other Government department responsible should have picked it up as a future problem.

Police are responsible for making sure nobody speeds or drives in a manner that causes accidents, this stretch, especially from Alway through to Dock Gates sees some of the worse driving around Newport. The three lanes into two was one of the worst parts, NOW dealt with. The small roundabout at Nash is simply that... TOO small. Why do designers insist on tight roundabouts, which not only causes traffic issues, but undue wear on tyres etc, issues with vehicles cutting across lanes, some drivers simply do not have the sense to allow larger vehicles space to get around, but again, wider lanes in the first place would have stopped this problem.
Then there is the two sets of lights within metres of each other by the Transporter, traffic travels at 50mph, through one green light at dock gates to be confronted with a sudden light change to red at the Transporter. Is it not possible to have lights work in tandem.... so traffic is already slowed? the amount of times I have been near rear ended here is shocking...

This is a Major Road... carries heavy traffic, and as such should be designed to cope and allow traffic to flow, Not Hinder It. I often wonder if it was the same planners/designers who designed the Brynglas Tunnels or the "Variable Speed" limits on the approach to it, which just causes congestion and traffic to build up, with everyone braking as they reach St Julians rundown....and speed up again once through the tunnels.... why were they designed on such a winding road approaching them, were they drunk? did the planning paper slip? Straight Road cause far less accidents... although I do understand sometimes "houses" etc are in the way, does not appear to be a problem with "train lines" though, maybe Traffic Designers should employ them to design future roads.

The amount of traffic lights along the section are a cause for concern, Not because they are there, but the amount of drivers who "Jump" them or ignore them completely. Nobody appears to want to wait at junctions anymore, and as such, the only way to deal with them is "Cameras" Road Safety Cameras... to catch these drivers and teach them the error of their ways... Before someone is killed or maimed.

So before councillors start pointing fingers outwards, they should look at who authorised it in the first place. DO the planners/designers actually drive? have they ever used a HGV or Larger Vehicle?, perhaps designers should speak to Motoring organisations when at design stage in future to understand the needs, what looks good on draft is not always good in practise.

Fact remains the same though, as much as the road has issues with design and road markings... it still falls down to driver error, most of us know the flaws and drive accordingly, sadly some Ignorant drivers infact far too many think the rules of the Highway do not apply to them.

Let me get this right, the council/authority somewhere approved the building and design of this road? But now state its the responsibility of Vinci to maintain it and that they were worried about the design of it from the start? but did what to question it?... maintenance has nothing to do with the design or faults which are causing some of the accidents, the suspect design flaws should have been picked up Prior to being built, The Original Contractors themselves should have thought it out more, and whoever at NCC or whatever other Government department responsible should have picked it up as a future problem.
Police are responsible for making sure nobody speeds or drives in a manner that causes accidents, this stretch, especially from Alway through to Dock Gates sees some of the worse driving around Newport. The three lanes into two was one of the worst parts, NOW dealt with. The small roundabout at Nash is simply that... TOO small. Why do designers insist on tight roundabouts, which not only causes traffic issues, but undue wear on tyres etc, issues with vehicles cutting across lanes, some drivers simply do not have the sense to allow larger vehicles space to get around, but again, wider lanes in the first place would have stopped this problem.
Then there is the two sets of lights within metres of each other by the Transporter, traffic travels at 50mph, through one green light at dock gates to be confronted with a sudden light change to red at the Transporter. Is it not possible to have lights work in tandem.... so traffic is already slowed? the amount of times I have been near rear ended here is shocking...
This is a Major Road... carries heavy traffic, and as such should be designed to cope and allow traffic to flow, Not Hinder It. I often wonder if it was the same planners/designers who designed the Brynglas Tunnels or the "Variable Speed" limits on the approach to it, which just causes congestion and traffic to build up, with everyone braking as they reach St Julians rundown....and speed up again once through the tunnels.... why were they designed on such a winding road approaching them, were they drunk? did the planning paper slip? Straight Road cause far less accidents... although I do understand sometimes "houses" etc are in the way, does not appear to be a problem with "train lines" though, maybe Traffic Designers should employ them to design future roads.
The amount of traffic lights along the section are a cause for concern, Not because they are there, but the amount of drivers who "Jump" them or ignore them completely. Nobody appears to want to wait at junctions anymore, and as such, the only way to deal with them is "Cameras" Road Safety Cameras... to catch these drivers and teach them the error of their ways... Before someone is killed or maimed.
So before councillors start pointing fingers outwards, they should look at who authorised it in the first place. DO the planners/designers actually drive? have they ever used a HGV or Larger Vehicle?, perhaps designers should speak to Motoring organisations when at design stage in future to understand the needs, what looks good on draft is not always good in practise.
Fact remains the same though, as much as the road has issues with design and road markings... it still falls down to driver error, most of us know the flaws and drive accordingly, sadly some Ignorant drivers infact far too many think the rules of the Highway do not apply to them.Lliswerry Man

Let me get this right, the council/authority somewhere approved the building and design of this road? But now state its the responsibility of Vinci to maintain it and that they were worried about the design of it from the start? but did what to question it?... maintenance has nothing to do with the design or faults which are causing some of the accidents, the suspect design flaws should have been picked up Prior to being built, The Original Contractors themselves should have thought it out more, and whoever at NCC or whatever other Government department responsible should have picked it up as a future problem.

Police are responsible for making sure nobody speeds or drives in a manner that causes accidents, this stretch, especially from Alway through to Dock Gates sees some of the worse driving around Newport. The three lanes into two was one of the worst parts, NOW dealt with. The small roundabout at Nash is simply that... TOO small. Why do designers insist on tight roundabouts, which not only causes traffic issues, but undue wear on tyres etc, issues with vehicles cutting across lanes, some drivers simply do not have the sense to allow larger vehicles space to get around, but again, wider lanes in the first place would have stopped this problem.
Then there is the two sets of lights within metres of each other by the Transporter, traffic travels at 50mph, through one green light at dock gates to be confronted with a sudden light change to red at the Transporter. Is it not possible to have lights work in tandem.... so traffic is already slowed? the amount of times I have been near rear ended here is shocking...

This is a Major Road... carries heavy traffic, and as such should be designed to cope and allow traffic to flow, Not Hinder It. I often wonder if it was the same planners/designers who designed the Brynglas Tunnels or the "Variable Speed" limits on the approach to it, which just causes congestion and traffic to build up, with everyone braking as they reach St Julians rundown....and speed up again once through the tunnels.... why were they designed on such a winding road approaching them, were they drunk? did the planning paper slip? Straight Road cause far less accidents... although I do understand sometimes "houses" etc are in the way, does not appear to be a problem with "train lines" though, maybe Traffic Designers should employ them to design future roads.

The amount of traffic lights along the section are a cause for concern, Not because they are there, but the amount of drivers who "Jump" them or ignore them completely. Nobody appears to want to wait at junctions anymore, and as such, the only way to deal with them is "Cameras" Road Safety Cameras... to catch these drivers and teach them the error of their ways... Before someone is killed or maimed.

So before councillors start pointing fingers outwards, they should look at who authorised it in the first place. DO the planners/designers actually drive? have they ever used a HGV or Larger Vehicle?, perhaps designers should speak to Motoring organisations when at design stage in future to understand the needs, what looks good on draft is not always good in practise.

Fact remains the same though, as much as the road has issues with design and road markings... it still falls down to driver error, most of us know the flaws and drive accordingly, sadly some Ignorant drivers infact far too many think the rules of the Highway do not apply to them.

Score: 17

arjwain
10:37am Thu 7 Aug 14

that road is a nightmare ..nothing to do with the road itself ..its the drivers not staying in the lane . its not hard you keep in the lane they come around the roundabout and just drive into the next lane .
also coming out from aldi to join the road again its like playing chicken they need lights there . also lliswerry side . no one lets you out so you have to chance it ..
so traffic lights
drivers keep in lanes .
not a problem if anyone thinks the actual road is bad use lanes .drop your speed taking corners ..simples ..

that road is a nightmare ..nothing to do with the road itself ..its the drivers not staying in the lane . its not hard you keep in the lane they come around the roundabout and just drive into the next lane .
also coming out from aldi to join the road again its like playing chicken they need lights there . also lliswerry side . no one lets you out so you have to chance it ..
so traffic lights
drivers keep in lanes .
not a problem if anyone thinks the actual road is bad use lanes .drop your speed taking corners ..simples ..arjwain

that road is a nightmare ..nothing to do with the road itself ..its the drivers not staying in the lane . its not hard you keep in the lane they come around the roundabout and just drive into the next lane .
also coming out from aldi to join the road again its like playing chicken they need lights there . also lliswerry side . no one lets you out so you have to chance it ..
so traffic lights
drivers keep in lanes .
not a problem if anyone thinks the actual road is bad use lanes .drop your speed taking corners ..simples ..

Score: 10

itsajoke
3:29pm Thu 7 Aug 14

drivers approach the roundabouts too fast, need speed humps to slow them down.
That roundabout is dangerous, though not as bad as Swindons!

drivers approach the roundabouts too fast, need speed humps to slow them down.
That roundabout is dangerous, though not as bad as Swindons!itsajoke

drivers approach the roundabouts too fast, need speed humps to slow them down.
That roundabout is dangerous, though not as bad as Swindons!

Score: 1

landyman3030
5:14pm Thu 7 Aug 14

I use the SDR several times a day over most of its length. People can go on and on about more expensive re engineering all they want. Yes the three lane roundabouts are tight. Yes there are junctions that are virtually impossible to get out of. But the underlying major factor is the speed and inability of many drivers to drive inside a white line. Today on the Nash Road roundabout which currently has the top surface missing due to ongoing repairs, I have witnessed 3 separate drivers take the virtual racing line and gone from lane 1 straight through the roundabout back into lane 1 causing mayhem. 2 males in their late forties early fifties and a woman about 30. You see atrocious driving constantly in close confines on this road and others. And you can add the M4 to that. Design faults do exist on both these roads but it is the poor driving discipline that is the major cause of hold ups and accidents.

I use the SDR several times a day over most of its length. People can go on and on about more expensive re engineering all they want. Yes the three lane roundabouts are tight. Yes there are junctions that are virtually impossible to get out of. But the underlying major factor is the speed and inability of many drivers to drive inside a white line. Today on the Nash Road roundabout which currently has the top surface missing due to ongoing repairs, I have witnessed 3 separate drivers take the virtual racing line and gone from lane 1 straight through the roundabout back into lane 1 causing mayhem. 2 males in their late forties early fifties and a woman about 30. You see atrocious driving constantly in close confines on this road and others. And you can add the M4 to that. Design faults do exist on both these roads but it is the poor driving discipline that is the major cause of hold ups and accidents.landyman3030

I use the SDR several times a day over most of its length. People can go on and on about more expensive re engineering all they want. Yes the three lane roundabouts are tight. Yes there are junctions that are virtually impossible to get out of. But the underlying major factor is the speed and inability of many drivers to drive inside a white line. Today on the Nash Road roundabout which currently has the top surface missing due to ongoing repairs, I have witnessed 3 separate drivers take the virtual racing line and gone from lane 1 straight through the roundabout back into lane 1 causing mayhem. 2 males in their late forties early fifties and a woman about 30. You see atrocious driving constantly in close confines on this road and others. And you can add the M4 to that. Design faults do exist on both these roads but it is the poor driving discipline that is the major cause of hold ups and accidents.

Score: 6

warneboy
12:48am Sat 9 Aug 14

Get the facts right. The S.D.R has already claimed the life of a 22 year old man , in a fatal crash September 2013

Get the facts right. The S.D.R has already claimed the life of a 22 year old man , in a fatal crash September 2013warneboy

Get the facts right. The S.D.R has already claimed the life of a 22 year old man , in a fatal crash September 2013

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